Arsenal transfer round-up: Real Madrid star to arrive and Gunners defender to leave?

It has been an interesting four months for Arsenal Football Club. The initial despondency that followed their opening day loss to Aston Villa now seems a distant memory, as the Gunners extended their lead at the top of the Premier League after beating Southampton at the weekend.

Arsene Wenger’s lack of spending throughout the summer was dramatically ended on the final day of the transfer window, as he snapped up Mesut Ozil in a club-record deal. And as the January window rapidly approaches, speculation has been mounting over who could be the next face to arrive at the Emirates.

Many will question whether the signing of any new talent is really that necessary, but with games coming thick and fast and the club aiming to sustain their title challenge, one or two arrivals could be the perfect move.

Perhaps Arsenal’s biggest strength this season has been the variation of players that have scored for them. Seemingly gone are the days when the Gunners relied on one specific player for goals, with strikes coming from all areas of the pitch. Olivier Giroud is enjoying an exceptional second season at the club, but should the Frenchman succumb to injury there is no suitable replacement.

 It should come as no surprise to see that Arsenal have therefore been linked with another striker, with Olympiacos’ Konstantinos Mitroglou the most frequently named player. The Greek hitman boasts 14 league goals to his name, with the Daily Express claiming that Arsenal are already battling Liverpool for his signature